2017 BMW M3 With M Performance Parts First Test Review

There are two kinds of car buyers: those who drive a car off a dealer lot and are content to leave it that way for the rest of its life and those that have the itch to tinker, personalize, and accessorize. Perhaps better than any other automaker, BMW knows how to appeal to this second type of buyer and tap into their wallet with its line of M Performance Parts. And although some of the parts in the catalog are purely cosmetic, many do actually deliver on the “performance” part of the brand name.

The wheel and tire package includes a staggered set of 19-inch front and 20-inch rear split-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in super-sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The titanium exhaust might add some power, but BMW doesn’t specify how much. The automaker says you will save 17 pounds compared to the standard exhaust, however. Whether it makes any more power, the system sounds great at wide-open throttle, though it tends to drone on the highway.

Nearly every driveway has to be taken at an angle, and even then you still might scrape if you’re not careful. Height is manually adjustable at the spring perch, so you might want to raise the car if you know you’re going into town or only lower the car when you’re going to the track. You also don’t have to spring for the carbon-fiber lip if you’re worried about scraping. But if you want the look and claimed aero benefits of the lip without the risk of damaging precious carbon fiber, BMW will sell you a matte black plastic unit for $470.

The BMW M Performance Parts catalog has something for everyone. If you simply want a high-performance look, BMW has plenty of decals and carbon fiber and aluminum accessories emblazoned with the M logo. If you want actual performance with measurable gains, your local BMW dealer has that, too.